[Paddlewise] Watercycling

I don't know how many Paddlewisers also read US News and World Report, but
there's an interesting article in the current issue about waterbikes. The
story is also online at:

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/000904/nycu/waterbikes.htm

Anyway, this story is about the increased popularity of waterbikes -- kayak
like hulls with a pedal drive system. The photo in the article (not on the
website) shows what appears to be a pretty big kayak, something like a
Chinook with aspirations to be a sit on top, fitted with a crank mechanism. 

The USN&WR story intimated that these boats were designed for open water,
but I think I'd be kind of leery of that. I did see a guy out on one of
these on an inland lake this summer -- it was more of an upright thing with
a bicycle framework. He got wiped out on about a one-foot wave, and had a
heck of a time getting back on board. I was thinking about going out and
giving him a hand -- the water was pretty warm -- but he managed to get
back on top before I could get the yak in the water. The article also says
that they're faster than the typical kayak.

Has anybody tried out one of these things? What's your reaction? Fact or
fad? I know Matt Broze had a watercycle that went like a house afire -- but
IIRC, it had limited stability, being only something like 12" wide. 



***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************